How to Overcome Addiction & Win at Life
“It is a deathtrap.” You may have heard or thought about this statement yourself whenever you come across the word ‘addiction’. It’s a pretty common belief in the society as a whole. If you take a look at all the detrimental effects of some forms of addiction including narcotics, alcohol, and tobacco, you’ll see that addiction can indeed become a deathtrap. Thus, you may well ask whether someone is a lost cause if he has succumbed to some forms of addiction. Is he really or there’s still a fighting chance for him to change for the better?
Apparently, addiction becomes and remains a deathtrap if you don’t do something about it. There are hundreds of inspiring stories around the globe—stories of real people who broke free from addiction and are now winning at life. You can read some of them on the website Project Unbroken. If they can do it, others can definitely overcome addiction, too! The question now is: How is it possible?
Recognize the Problem
The first step in overcoming addiction is to recognize that you indeed have this problem. If you don’t, you’d be deceiving yourself into thinking that everything is fine with your lifestyle and there is certainly nothing to worry about. And so, you’d just keep ignoring the fact that you are addicted to something.
By definition, addiction is the physical dependency of a person to psychoactive substances such as drugs, tobacco, and alcohol for pleasure and self-gratification. It may also pertain to the psychological dependency of a person on various activities for the same reason. Examples of these are overeating, binge-watching TV shows, using social media, gaming, shopping, working, and even exercising.
When a person becomes too dependent on a particular thing for self-gratification and survival, this can lead to harmful effects even when that particular addiction is not a serious offense at a glance. For example, eating your comfort food, scrolling through social media, working, and exercising aren’t bad things in themselves. But when you go out of balance, say, you become workaholic, it may take a toll on your health in the long run.
All kinds of addiction can pose risks for you. Drug addiction though is way too notorious for putting people’s lives at risk—both its users and the people they interact with. Some countries have even implemented serious punishments such as death penalty on crimes that involve drugs.
If you don’t understand what addiction is, the seriousness of its damaging effects, and the benefits you’ll reap when you’ve finally overcome it, it will be difficult to find the drive to start turning your life around. Therefore, it is important that you admit in yourself that you have to do something with your self-destructive habits.
Seek Professional Medical Help
It is possible to break free from addiction on your own. To do this you need some serious motivation and self-control as well as cast-iron determination to curb your unhealthy habits. Some individuals though have found that working with a professional medical practitioner throughout the process of rehabilitation was a tremendous help, especially when dealing with withdrawal symptoms.
If you find it extremely challenging to break free from addiction on your own, you may try seeking the advice of a professional medical practitioner. He may suggest particular rehabilitation and medical approaches to help you get rid of your self-destructive habits.
Accept Help from the Persons You Trust
You need the support of your family and some of your most trusted friends to win the battle against addiction. You don’t have to face this problem alone. Turn to them for emotional support. It’s always good to have someone you can pour your heart out with—someone who won’t be quick to judge you.
Parents, if you are reading this, please get to know your young ones better. Spend time with them. Listen to them. Show them your support especially in times when they need it the most. This simple act forging a real, strong connection with your family members can go a long way in protecting your children from bad associates who could influence them to try self-destructive habits such as drug abuse.
But what if it’s too late for prevention? Check out the warning signs in this article. What if you discovered that your teenager is taking drugs? The shock and disappointment you’ll feel could easily invoke emotional outbursts. While it is normal to be furious and upset, try as much as possible not to panic. Do your best to remain calm when dealing with the situation. Don’t think that your child is a lost cause already. There’s a good reason you can remain positive despite disappointment because drug addiction is definitely curable.
Be Ready to Leave Things Behind
Breaking free from drug addiction could be compared to escaping a burning house. You might need to leave things behind to get out immediately, but it’s worth the sacrifice because you’ve saved your life. In the same way, quitting drugs could mean cutting connections with the friends you used to associate with. If they still abuse drugs, they may pressure you to join them again. The efforts you’ve initiated to overcome addiction will be futile in the end if you keep associating with people who do not respect your resolve to change for the better.
And so, many former drug abusers have found that it is extremely helpful to avoid people, places, and things that remind you of drugs. This is because just a glance of any of these could bring back your insatiable cravings.
Find Your Sense of Purpose
Strive to live a more meaningful life. Find your sense of purpose. Cultivate your strengths. Focus on worthwhile activities such as volunteering and helping people. When you make yourself busy with those things, you are helping yourself forget the self-destructive habits you used to have.
It’s definitely possible to overcome addiction and start winning at life. That’s what you want for sure. Today is the right time to start.
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